– The experiences from the voluntary work are very valuable, says Aksel Kvamme Aase (23). He is studying to become a civil engineer at NTNU. Had he completed his studies in the normal time, he would have graduated before the summer. Instead, it will take another year and a half before Aksel delivers his final exam. He is not alone. Less than 54 per cent of all students complete their education in the normal time. In recent years, Aksel has both studied for a semester part-time and had a leave of absence from his studies to make time for voluntary work. – I don’t feel any rush. I do not regret that I have postponed my studies. – As long as it’s something you have control over, I don’t see anything negative about spending more time. The perspective report points out that getting more people into work is crucial to solving the challenges society faces in the coming years. The report shows that getting students through education more quickly can provide Norway with an important workforce. – There are probably many different reasons why people delay their studies. Someone gets left behind professionally, says Aksel. Photo: Henning Levold / news Can save billions Projections in the Perspective report show that we in Norway will have more elderly people and need care for each working person until 2060. If students on average complete their education half a year earlier, it could give Norway 15,500 more man-years, according to the message. Such a six-month period will also result in savings of 7.7 billion by 2033. But many people take time to finish their studies. Just over half of those who started a bachelor’s or master’s program finished after the three or five years considered normal. For students studying integrated five-year degrees, the figure is only 50 per cent. Aksel sits in the student parliament at NTNU’s working group. It is a full-time position and means that he has to take leave from his studies for a year. Photo: Henning Levold / news – Difficult to be a student – It’s too bad. It is a number that one should not be satisfied with. This is according to the leader of the Norwegian Student Organization (NSO), Kaja Hovdenak. She nevertheless points out that there can be many good reasons why students do not finish on time. – Some take leave from their studies because they become parents, have voluntary positions or work with something else for a period. – It is not the case that it has to be exclusively negative to spend more time studying. Hovdnak himself has a leave of absence from his studies at UiB to fill the leadership role in NSO. – There are those who want to finish in the normal time, but who don’t get it until we have to make more arrangements for it. She thinks many people are late because they have part-time jobs that require a lot of time. – As it is now, the student aid does not extend. Many people have to work a lot to make it go around. Hovdenak believes that an increase in student aid would mean that more people would finish their studies more quickly. – If students avoid juggling part-time jobs and studies, more will probably finish in the normal time. The friends and experience he has gained from the voluntary work are worth a lot, says Aksel. Photo: Henning Levold / news – Compound reasons State Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Ivar Prestbakmo (Sp), says the reasons why few complete in the standard time are compound. – It can be a feature of the students, the institutions, the education system, or social conditions. He says that for many years it has been a goal to increase implementation. – First and foremost, it is the universities and colleges that are responsible for following up on what the students complete. The State Secretary says the government has put in place a funding system that rewards both the institutions and the students for completing their studies. Among other things, with the conversion of student loans into scholarships upon completion. Published 15.09.2024, at 4:30 p.m
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Only half of the students finish in the normal time – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
